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Areas of Expertise:
Civil Rights Movement
Community Organizing
Faith in Action
Reverend Calvin Morris’ professional experience has placed him in key leadership roles in faith-based, community-based and educationally centered institutions. His background holds an interesting blend of scholarly and management experiences in religious and educational institutions and executive management experience in organizations committed to racial, social and economic justice.
In July of 1998, Morris was named Executive Director of Community Renewal Society. In this capacity, Morris directs a staff of 40 and oversees an annual operating budget of $3.5 million. Morris is the 10th executive director in Community Renewal’s 125-year history. Community Renewal Society is a metropolitan Chicago, faith-based organization that concretely improves the lives of individuals affected by racism and poverty.
Prior to Community Renewal, Morris served as Executive Vice-President of Academic Services and Academic Dean at Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta, Georgia from 1992 - 1998. ITC is a consortium of six seminaries providing training for the United Methodist, Christian Methodist, Church of God in Christ, Presbyterian USA, National Baptist and Africa Methodist denominations.
Before joining ITC, Morris served 16 years at the Howard University School of Divinity as Director of Field Education and Director of Ministries to Church and Society. He also taught at Howard, holding the positions of Assistant Professor of Practical Theology (1976-1982) and Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology (1982-1992).
From 1973 - 1976, Morris served as the Executive Director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Social Change in Atlanta. During his tenure, his work included the reconstituting and building of staff and programs and the restoration of the birth home of Martin Luther King, Jr. Prior to joining the King Center, Morris was the Director of the African-American Studies Program at Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts from 1971-1973.
From 1967-1971, Morris served as Associate Director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s (SCLC) Operation Breadbasket in Chicago, now Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.
Morris has actively volunteered with many organizations. He is a member of the following boards: Chicago Jobs with Justice (Executive Committee), Jobs With Justice National Board (Chair), Lincoln University Board of Trustees (Chair), Golden Apple Foundation (Chair of Governance Committee), the Wieboldt Foundation, Chicago Project For Violence Prevention – Cease Fire (Chair), and Latinos United Executive Council. Also, he is Co-convener of the Justice Coalition of Greater Chicago.
Morris is the recipient of many awards including: an honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from Lincoln University, Pennsylvania (his alma mater); and an honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree from Chicago Theological Seminary.
Morris received his Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Arts degrees in history from Boston University, Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree from Boston University School of Theology, and Bachelor of Arts degree in History, cum laude, from Lincoln University. Morris is ordained in the United Methodist Church and has Dual Standing in the United Church of Christ. In addition, Morris is a strong ecumenist.
A resident of Chicago’s South Shore community, Morris is the father of Dorothy (Dodie) Morris-Whitaker and Rachel Elaine Morris (deceased), father-in-law of Vincent (Gino) Whitaker and grandfather of Miranda Rachel and Zachary Henry Morris-Whitaker. The Whitakers reside in Oak Park, Illinois.
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Rev. Calvin S. Morris, PhD
< Back to Speakers BureauAreas of Expertise:
In July of 1998, Morris was named Executive Director of Community Renewal Society. In this capacity, Morris directs a staff of 40 and oversees an annual operating budget of $3.5 million. Morris is the 10th executive director in Community Renewal’s 125-year history. Community Renewal Society is a metropolitan Chicago, faith-based organization that concretely improves the lives of individuals affected by racism and poverty.
Prior to Community Renewal, Morris served as Executive Vice-President of Academic Services and Academic Dean at Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta, Georgia from 1992 - 1998. ITC is a consortium of six seminaries providing training for the United Methodist, Christian Methodist, Church of God in Christ, Presbyterian USA, National Baptist and Africa Methodist denominations.
Before joining ITC, Morris served 16 years at the Howard University School of Divinity as Director of Field Education and Director of Ministries to Church and Society. He also taught at Howard, holding the positions of Assistant Professor of Practical Theology (1976-1982) and Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology (1982-1992).
From 1973 - 1976, Morris served as the Executive Director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Social Change in Atlanta. During his tenure, his work included the reconstituting and building of staff and programs and the restoration of the birth home of Martin Luther King, Jr. Prior to joining the King Center, Morris was the Director of the African-American Studies Program at Simmons College in Boston, Massachusetts from 1971-1973.
From 1967-1971, Morris served as Associate Director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s (SCLC) Operation Breadbasket in Chicago, now Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.
Morris has actively volunteered with many organizations. He is a member of the following boards: Chicago Jobs with Justice (Executive Committee), Jobs With Justice National Board (Chair), Lincoln University Board of Trustees (Chair), Golden Apple Foundation (Chair of Governance Committee), the Wieboldt Foundation, Chicago Project For Violence Prevention – Cease Fire (Chair), and Latinos United Executive Council. Also, he is Co-convener of the Justice Coalition of Greater Chicago.
Morris is the recipient of many awards including: an honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from Lincoln University, Pennsylvania (his alma mater); and an honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree from Chicago Theological Seminary.
Morris received his Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Arts degrees in history from Boston University, Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree from Boston University School of Theology, and Bachelor of Arts degree in History, cum laude, from Lincoln University. Morris is ordained in the United Methodist Church and has Dual Standing in the United Church of Christ. In addition, Morris is a strong ecumenist.
A resident of Chicago’s South Shore community, Morris is the father of Dorothy (Dodie) Morris-Whitaker and Rachel Elaine Morris (deceased), father-in-law of Vincent (Gino) Whitaker and grandfather of Miranda Rachel and Zachary Henry Morris-Whitaker. The Whitakers reside in Oak Park, Illinois.
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